James Shearer RSA 1880-20/12/1962

Mr James Shearer died at his home, Morton Lodge, Dunfermline, on 20^th December, 1962. A native of Dunfermline, he was a partner in the firm of James Shearer and Architects, Maygate. 

For almost 37 years, he was Consulting Architect to the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, for whom he prepared plans for Hostels at Stornoway, Portree and Lerwick. He was also associated with several important building contracts. He was the designer of the Andrew Carnegie Memorial in Dunfermline, which was commissioned by his widow.

Other commissions in Dunfermline included the extension of the Carnegie Central Library and the fire station in Carnegie Street. Mr. Shearer was also Architect for the new Scottish Central Library building in Fisher's Close, Edinburgh, opened in 1953 by the Duke of Edinburgh.

Mr. Shearer was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1943 and an Academician in 1948. He was also a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Architects and Surveyors.

He was appointed an Academy representative on the National Trust for Scotland in 1949 and relinquished office in 1958.

Mr. Shearer intimated his desire to be placed on the retired list of Academicians in November 1958 when the after-effects of a serious illness had restricted his professional work to a minimum.

The Academy were very grateful for all the help he had given in the deliberation in Council and in Assemblies and for his services as a Member.

Mr. Shearer was greatly admired for the particular quality of his Architectural skill and for his quiet and friendly nature.

His elevation to the Academy came to him as a sudden and unexpected honour, and as he wrote at the time "…of all the honours open to my profession in Scotland, this is what I would have chosen, had I dared…"

RSA Obituary, transcribed from the 1962 RSA Annual Report